Mil-Comp for PIT Grads???

[Fury220]

Sup guys --

I'm in PIT here at good ol' SPS. I'm well aware of the mil-competency test that UPT grads can take for the commercial, instrument, etc rating...


...does a mil-comp test apply for PIT grads? Technically, a PIT grad is a CFII and is able to instruct in all phases of composite flight (day/night/single ship/2 ship/4 ship/the list goes on...).

I'm guessing the answer is a big fat "no" but I just had to ask. Thanks in advance.

 

[Fury220]

Hm...45 views and yet no one knows? Does anyone have any idea where to look?

 

[skiddriver]

As a Jarhead, you'll have to excuse my ignorance of AF TLAs, but I expect that PIT is pilot instructor training. My assumption is that you are a military rated pilot, not a nav. If you're a Nav, you're out of luck.

Rules for military competency relate to any miltary rated pilot. They're in 14 CFR 61.73. Link:

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/12feb20041500/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2004/janqtr/pdf/14cfr61.73.pdf

I'll assume that you are on flight orders, have flown in the last 12 months, have accumulated at least 10 hours PIC time in the last 12 months, have a current aircraft commander rating, and have a current instrument check within the last 12 months.

You need to:

- Get a study guide (I used the ASA commercial book because it had the commercial questions that appear on the mil comp test listed in the back for easy reference). Study it for a few days. Don't think you can do well without this prep, there are a lot of commercial regs you know nothing about.
- Go to an FAA affiliated test center and take the test. You can get reimbursement from the VA for the cost of taking the test if the $15 bucks is important to you.
-Take the original test result form, your logbook showing 10 hours PIC time in the category and class aircraft you're applying for, your records showing your current instrument check and aircraft commanders rating (within the last 12 months), your military ID card, orders showing that you are a military rated pilot or some AF form that shows you are a military rated pilot, and your shiny self down to the local FSDO.

You will receive an FAA certificate showing what category and class aircraft you are eligible to fly. My first visit I received helicopter and multi-engine airplane land, and helo and airplane instrument. I got a T-34 NATOPS check and 10 hours PIC and added single engine airplane land on a subsequent visit.

If you're flying a military aircraft that has an equivalent type rating on the civilian side, they'll add that in as well.

Remember that you need an FAA medical appropriate to the type of civilian flying you wish to perform before you can exercise the priviledges of your new license. I additionally urge you to get instruction from a CFI in any civilian aircraft you wish to fly in. Most likely no one will rent you one without a checkout, but before you borrow your buddy's 152 to run the wife around the pattern, make sure you know how to fly the dang thing.

Good luck.

 

[Fury220]

Skid-

Thanks -- that's a great link, and good info all around. More specifically, however, I was wondering if a graduate of Pilot Instructor Training (sorry 'bout the TLAs) could get a mil-comp CFI or CFII from the FAA with little more than a written exam.

I was noting the parallel between graduating UPT and earning a commercial, instrument, multi-engine, etc...but does that parallel work the same with graduates of a military pilot instructor course? I.E.: are they also entitled to FAA instructor ratings because of their military instructor training/experience?

From the link you provided, it seems like the answer is no. I was just wondering if there was anyone on the board with firsthand experience who might shed some additional light on the subject. I'm SURE we have some Tweet/Talon IPs on this board.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[skiddriver]

The answer is no. The only mil comp allowed by the FAA is for commercial tickets. I got my SEL CFI through a 141 school using VA benefits (painful but saved some money) which I have since allowed to lapse due to lack of interest in instructing.

I was an IP and instrument check pilot in most of the aircraft I was rated in, but the FAA doesn't recognize that for FAA instructor ratings, and to be honest, the FAA training system isn't anything like what you and I know from the military. If you're interested in pursuing those ratings, you'll find your instructional experience from the military will help in lesson plan development, ground and flight instruction, as well as instructional flight management, but there are a lot of FAA specific items that you won't be familiar with.

So, long story short, you have to do your CFI / CFII training using the Part 61 or 141 regs, with a civilian CFI. If you have a flying club at your base, you may be able to find someone there to work with.

To get a feel for some of the things you'll need to know to get your CFI rating, see this link on Fundamentals of Instruction . It's not radically different from what you learned in IPT, but you have to speak the FAA jargon, as well as be familiar with endorsement requirements, solo requirements, etc. etc. etc.

http://www.aerosports.org/foi_study_guide.htm

Good luck. I suppose for folks who are really into teaching or flying light aircraft, it's a gas, but I never really got into civilian flight instruction.

 

[Tweetdrvr]

I would recommend taking the time off and going to a part 141 school, and getting the instructor ratings if that is what you want. Otherwise you will never be able to squeeze the flying in, especially if the SPS student load is anything like the load at DLF. All we seem to do is trip turn. The good news is that you don't need to be an MEI to instruct in a T-37 or T-38. The FSDO can now renew a CFI based on duties and responsibilities, which is what I did to renew mine before I got my MEI.

I did my CFI when I was flying Herks in the ANG and then finally added on my MEI a couple of years ago before they took the Tweet away from me.

PM me if you want more info.

Fly Safe!!